Medical Mycology: Open Access

Biodegradation of plasticizers from polypropylene thermoplastic composites by halotolerant fungi

2^nd International Conference on Mycology & Mushrooms
September 25-26, 2017 Chicago, USA

Francisco Javier Toledo Marante, Mioso R and Bravo de Laguna I H

ULPGC, Spain
UFPE, Brazil

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Med Mycol Open Access

DOI: 10.21767/2471-8521-C1-003

Abstract

This study investigated the capacity of two halotolerant fungal strains, which were grown in liquid-surface fermentation, to degrade plasticizers from polypropylene containers. Paecilomyces variotii and Penicillium roqueforti were grown for 12 days under hypersaline liquid-surface fermentation, with polypropylene commercial storage boxes being used as the fermenters. The biodegradation experiment was conducted in a modified KMV broth. Bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (BEHP, 1), a common chemical additive, was identified as the only plasticizer in the culture containers used. It was observed that P. varioti was able to transform BEHP into diethyl- and dibutyl- phthalates, while P. roqueforti transformed BEHP into diethyl-, bis-(2-methylpropyl)-, dibutyl-, bis-(4-methylpentyl)-, dihexyl-, and dioctyl- phthalates. In this last case, 2-ethylhexyl-adipate (2) also was identified as byproduct. BEHP was not detected in either mycelium after the incubation period. The results suggest that P. varioti and P. roqueforti are highly efficient in degrading the BEHP plasticizer and can be used for bioremediation of polypropylene wastes. Therefore, efficient biotic degradation of polypropylene by halotolerant fungal strains could provide eco-friendly alternatives for degrading plastic additives, as well as leading to advances in the research and development of bioremediation strategies.